Prevent Tooth Decay in Children with Fluoride Treatments

While your child may already be following routine habits like daily brushing and flossing, along with regular visits to the dentist every six months. Additionally, you’ve ensured your child understands how their dietary choices can affect their oral health. These steps are essential in helping your child maintain a healthy smile. Yet, there is one more preventive measure recommended at Simply Kids Dental. Fluoride treatments in Colorado Springs, Colorado, strengthen the enamel to repel tooth decay for a healthy, beautiful smile.

Fluoride plays a vital role in cavity prevention by building a protective layer on teeth and inhibiting the buildup of plaque on the tooth’s surface.

What is fluoride?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element found in certain foods, water, soils, and rocks. The outer covering of the tooth, the enamel, is composed of calcium and phosphate that strengthen and protect the bone. Fluoride bonds with these minerals to further strengthen the enamel.

What are fluoride treatments?

When your child doesn’t brush or floss their teeth properly, the harmful bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars and starches and secrete acidic substances that erode the enamel. When the enamel breaks down, decay sets in.

Fluoride penetrates the enamel, making it more resistant to bacterial attacks. Fluoride also reverses early tooth decay by replenishing the enamel with vital minerals stripped away by acidic attacks.

Although your child can acquire fluoride from water, foods, and toothpaste, the intake is sometimes insufficient. In such cases, fluoride treatments are vital to replenish the enamel with this essential nutrient.

What are the two types of fluoride treatments?

  • Systemic fluoride is typically obtained through public water supplies and strengthens tooth enamel during the formation of teeth beneath the gums.
  • Topical fluoride can be directly applied to the teeth in the mouth, often through toothpaste, mouthwash, or professional fluoride treatments. Professional fluoride applications, more commonly found at the dentist office,such as foams and varnishes, are particularly effective in cavity prevention.

What should I expect from fluoride treatment?

Dr. Sean Vostatek and his team will administer fluoride treatments after a dental cleaning. The process is fast and painless, so you and your child have nothing to worry about. The two options our team can administer fluoride are using foam or gel in a tray or with a brush application. Simply Kids Dental typically applies a fluoride varnish by painting it on the teeth which is faster and more tolerable. Once applied, the varnish hardens within minutes upon contact with saliva.

After the fluoride treatment, it’s advisable for your child to refrain from eating or drinking for just 10 minutes, and they should wait at least 8 hours before brushing their teeth. This allows the fluoride to settle in properly for optimal effectiveness.

How often are fluoride treatments recommended?

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), children can get fluoride treatments as early as the first tooth erupts, which occurs at six months. Fluoride treatments are ideal for any children but especially for those at risk of tooth decay, undergoing treatment with braces, or drinking non-fluoride water.

Depending on your child’s risk profile, our office may recommend fluoride treatments every 3, 6, or 12 months. In between visits, we may recommend at-home fluoride regimens of prescription toothpaste, mouthwash, or rinses for high-risk patients.

Are fluoride treatments safe?

Yes! Fluoride is 100% safe for children if administered in the proper dosage. People in the US have been drinking fluoridated water for over 75 years, and many health bodies, including WHO and ADA, have consistently endorsed this. 

However, it’s important to note when selecting an at-home fluoride product (such as toothpaste or mouthwash), ensure it bears the ADA seal of acceptance. Products with this seal have undergone rigorous evaluation by the ADA for safety and effectiveness, providing you with peace of mind regarding their quality.

Are you ready for fluoride treatments?

Now that you know what fluoride can do for your child, help your little one fight tooth decay by scheduling an appointment with Simply Kids Dental. Call (719) 249-2030 or request an online appointment here.